What to Know
- Paul McCartney performed a "secret concert" at Grand Central Terminal Friday evening
- Super fans lined up for hours hoping to hear a bit but the noise of a bustling Grand Central drowned out much chance of hearing anything
- The rock star has been out and about in New York City the last week promoting his new album "Egypt Station"
Crowds descended on Grand Central Terminal for a "surprise" concert by Paul McCartney Friday evening, but those hoping to listen in were left disappointed.
Though McCartney remained tight-lipped about the location of the New York City concert, News 4 came across the concert stage being set up at Grand Central across from the Great Northern Food Hall early Friday. Police and security were stationed outside and inside the terminal, with barricades blocking one entrance at 42nd Street and Park Avenue.
By the time the show started at 8 p.m., super fans had been lined up for hours hoping to get inside. Another clue: special edition McCartney MetroCards are being sold at Grand Central, causing long lines at the booth.
The concert was initially announced on his website. McCartney hinted at the location on "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon" Thursday, saying, "Album is called 'Egypt Station' -- clue there, station. Going to be grand!"
Alas, only 300 fans got tickets to the show through an online sweepstakes, but fans were able to tune in to a livestream of the performance.
McCartney performed tracks from his new album "Egypt Station," along with Beatles, Wings and solo classics, and the event drew stars like Bon Jovi, Meryl Streep, Amy Schumer and Chris Rock.
Hundreds of hopeful fans waited on the other side of the black curtain shielding the private event inside Vanderbilt Hall. Brian Sullivan, who's seen McCartney about 75 times, flew into New York City from Miami Friday morning, even though he didn't have a ticket.
"Worse case is, I'll say I heard him," he said.
Nina Galpern of Philadelphia -- such a big fan that, after McCartney signed her foot, she had it tattooed -- was another one of the many fans without tickets standing around.
"We're just gonna hang around and see if we can hear it," she said. "Better than sitting at home watching on the computer screen."
But the noise of a bustling Grand Central Terminal drowned out much chance of hearing anything.
Local
"We've been here since 5 and... oh, well," said a disappointed Mary Richards of Massachusetts.
The rock star has been out and about in New York City the last week. During his appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," he surprised fans in the elevators of 30 Rock.
